News By Topic: New Vehicles

2006 Nissan Xterra OR-V6 4X4 Review

Oct 31, 2005

THE AUTO PAGE By JOHN HEILIG SPECIFICATIONS MODEL: Nissan Xterra OR-V6 4X4 ENGINE: 4.0-liter DOHC V6 HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 265 hp @ 5600 rpm/284 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic WHEELBASE: 106.3 in. LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 178.7 x 72.8 x 74.9 in. TIRES: P265/75R16 CARGO VOLUME: 65.7 cu. ft. ... Continue reading

Leggett & Platt Acquires America's Body Company

Oct 31, 2005

CARTHAGE, Mo., Oct. 31 -- -- Third-largest acquisition ever, with approximately $150 million of revenue. -- Joins with current operations to form new business group comprising $250 million of revenue. Diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt announced the acquisition of America's Body Company (ABC), a designer, manufac ... Continue reading

Rising Energy Costs Cause Change in Consumer Behavior

Oct 31, 2005

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--Oct. 31, 2005--Overview of Bay State Poll Results: Rising Energy Costs For Gas and Home Heating Are Major Concerns 56.8% have cut back on driving due to rising gas costs 40.0% say rising gas costs have caused financial hardship 55.3% are concerned (somewhat/very) about paying their winter heating ... Continue reading

SUV Fuel Economy Increases While SUV Pricing Drops in 2006 Model Year, According to Autobytel's AIC

Oct 31, 2005

Latest AIC Quarterly QuickView Also Uncovers 860% Increase in Availability of Backup Cameras; Reports 12 Time Jump in Vehicles With MP3 Capabilities IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 31 -- Autobytel Inc.'s Automotive Information Center (AIC) division today released data from its upcoming research report, the Q3 2005 AIC Quarterly Q ... Continue reading

South African-Produced Vehicles Closing the Quality Gap

Oct 31, 2005

LONDON, October 31 -- Seven of the top 10 passenger vehicle nameplates in initial quality are exclusively import brands, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 South Africa Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS) released today. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050527/LAF028LOGO-a) (Photos: http://www.news ... Continue reading

Honda to launch hybrid cars in China

Oct 31, 2005

TOKYO October 31, 2005; Japan Today reported that Honda Motor Co is planning to sell hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles in China as rival Toyota Motor Corp. is to start production there of the fuel-efficient cars within this year, a senior Honda official said Saturday. "We want to launch hybrid cars in China as early as ... Continue reading

GM and SAIC to Develop, Produce Energy-Efficient and Environmentally Clean Vehicles in China

Oct 31, 2005

Shanghai, China October 30, 2005; General Motors Corp. (GM) Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner and SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. (SAIC Motor) Chairman Hu Maoyuan signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Shanghai to explore opportunities for the local application and production of energy-efficient and environmentally clean vehi ... Continue reading

Hydrogen: The Uphill Climb to Green Technology

Oct 30, 2005

Washington DC October 27, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that amid rising energy costs and concerns regarding global climate change, hydrogen power has been deemed the “Holy Grail” of alternative energy sources, if only it could clear the mounting scientific and engineering hurdles prohibiting it from ... Continue reading

Dodge Intro's 2007 Nitro and 2007 Caliber

Oct 30, 2005

BY Thom Cannel Detroit Bureau Auburn Hills October 27, 2005; Today in Detroit, Dodge exposed its latest production vehicles to local press. It’s part of a traveling road show going coast-to-coast. Nitro – debut in Chicago this year – and Caliber, which gained major attention at the Frankfort (Germany) ... Continue reading

GM and SAIC to Develop, Produce Energy-Efficient and Environmentally Clean Vehicles in China

Oct 30, 2005

SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 29, 2005; General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner and SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. (SAIC Motor) Chairman Hu Maoyuan signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Shanghai to explore opportunities for the local application and production of energy-efficient and environmentally clean vehicles in ... Continue reading

GM to Double Number of Crossover Entries to 14 by 2009

Oct 29, 2005

DETROIT - General Motors will double its number of entries in the rapidly growing crossover vehicle segment to 14 during the next four years, Bob Lutz, vice chairman of product development, said today. Crossovers, which combine the best features of cars and sport utility vehicles, have become increasingly popular with ... Continue reading

Hundreds of Lives Saved by Daytime Running Lamps

Oct 29, 2005

DETROIT – An estimated 423 U.S. traffic deaths have been avoided in the last decade because daytime running lamps are standard on virtually all General Motors’ vehicles. If all new vehicles from model year 1996 on had been equipped with this technology, some 1,236 lives could have been saved, according to a ... Continue reading

Ford's Head of Hybrid Programs to Leave

Oct 28, 2005

DETROIT October 28, 2005; The AP reported that Ford Motor Co.'s high-profile head of hybrid programs is leaving the auto maker, at a time when Ford is relying heavily on its gas-electric hybrid-vehicle program to help turn around its struggling automotive operations. Mary Ann Wright, Ford's director of hybrid programs ... Continue reading

Nissan Revenue Up, Operating Profit Up

Oct 28, 2005

TOKYO, Japan, October 28 -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced financial results for the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, as well as second-quarter performance. In the six months through September, net income after tax totalled 230.7 billion yen (US $2.11 billion, euro 1.69 billion), down 3.4% ... Continue reading

South Florida Auto Show Unfazed By Hurricane

Oct 28, 2005

MIAMI, Oct. 28 -- Despite the recent impact of hurricane Wilma, one of the nation's largest auto shows will open on schedule Friday, November 4 in the Miami Beach Convention Center. The South Florida International Auto Show presented by Progressive Direct will exhibit more than 1,000 of the industry's newest models. "T ... Continue reading